Brandon Lyon becomes anchor in Tigers' bullpen

AP File PhotoDetroit's Brandon Lyon has lowered his ERA to 2.84 after some early-season struggles. He has not allowed an earned run in his past 14 outings.

DETROIT -- The season was just two days old when Detroit Tigers fans turned on Brandon Lyon.

But if Lyon has not won them back by now, he never will.

After a rough start in his first season with Detroit, Lyon has been all but perfect the past three months.

"He is one of the biggest parts of our team," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He's a huge contributor. I don't know where we'd be without him."

Heading into Friday night's game at Oakland, Lyon had allowed just three earned runs in his past 36 innings spanning 28 appearances since June 1. His ERA over that stretch is 0.75, and he has not allowed an earned run in his past 14 outings.

But Lyon was not as effective early in the season. He was signed as a free agent to compete for the closer's job, which Fernando Rodney won in spring training.

Lyon's first appearance for the Tigers was April 7 in Toronto in the team's second game of the season. He gave up a go-ahead three-run home run, was charged with a blown save, took the loss and headed back to Detroit with a 27.00 ERA.

His struggles continued through the first two months of the season, when he posted a 1-3 record and 6.43 ERA through May.

Tigers fans were less than impressed.

"They got on him quick," catcher Gerald Laird said. "Remember that home run he gave up in Toronto? He comes here and he's getting booed. He got booed for a while.

"You don't hear that anymore."

There is good reason for that. Lyon (6-4) has been rock solid since June 1 and has lowered his ERA to 2.84. He has been the most reliable relief pitcher in an impressive Tigers bullpen.

Lyon said he understands it takes time to change fans' perceptions.

"They get something stuck in their head," he said. "A fan comes to a game and you have a bad game, that's their opinion of you. They read an article, they read something, that's their opinion of you, instead of actually seeing it over the long haul. I understand that."

Laird said Lyon, who had a career-high 26 saves with Arizona last season, has been helped by increased velocity and has become comfortable with his new team and his new role as a setup man for Rodney.

That role is an important one.

"He pitches the biggest innings of the game," Laird said. "I think the seventh, eighth inning with the lead is just as tough as the ninth inning.

"He's been just huge."

Laird and Leyland also pointed to Lyon's use and command of his cut fastball as one reason for his turnaround.

Whatever the reason, Lyon has become an anchor in the bullpen, which quietly has become one of the strengths of the team.

"I hope the fans appreciate what he's done for our bullpen and for our team," Laird said. "The last three months, he's probably one of the best, if not the best, reliever in the league."